It's gift giving time and we've got a set of reviews for some products that just might make someone very happy this Christmas. For the good little boys and girls, Santa will leave an assortment of anime DVDs, CDs, and video games. For those children who've been naughty all year in their stockings they will find on Christmas morning... nothing but a lone Cardcaptors CD.

As usual, we're willing to review anything you'll like from Japan. That includes ANYTHING -- Anime, Manga, canned beverages, toothpaste, music... anything. We mean it. So, if you have a review you'd like to see on Animefringe (we'll put it right here on this page with the rest of the month's reviews...) don't be afraid to send it over...

The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: The OVA Collection

The war between the Holy Raalgon Empire and the United Planets Space Force is at a stand still, and a short time of peace has come across the galaxy. Still, factions on both sides want to see the war escalate back to the way that it was. In the middle of all this is the Earthbound crew of a once great Destroyer Soyokaze and their hope for lasting peace. Everything comes to a head in the final chapters of the much loved Captain Tylor saga.

Immortal and ever powerful, the Guardian watches the Shinma, and then returns them to the darkness from whence they came. But this guardian is a 13-year-old girl, and not just any 13-year-old girl. She is Miyu, an immortal vampire, aged beyond her looks and wise beyond her years.

The cardcaptoring continues as Sakura and friends continue to chase down the Clow Cards. Pioneer's release features the only uncut, Japanese version of CSS released in the U.S. As such, the show is far superior to its American (mutilated) counterpart.

Possessed hair, creepy schoolgirls, killer bees, headless sculptures, suicide, homicide, jealousy, greed, vanity,... all of this and more can be found in the 6 tales of horror in the Third Volume of the Junji Ito Horror Comic Collection, Flesh-Colored Horror.

Unlike the other merchandise up to this point that was a mix of both the English and Japanese versions, this CD will only appeal to the most dedicated of Cardcaptors alumni. The CD is a cute mix of thirteen tracks that feature Pop, R&B, and Techno that have all appeared at some point in the English dub. Fans of Card Captor Sakura looking for Japanese songs should look elsewhere.

Rurouni Kenshin is one of the most popular anime in the last ten years. In the stirring orchestral soundtrack for the OVA series, Taku Iwasaki is able to replicate every sword slash and every tear through music.

Luigi has won a mansion, but it seems to be filled ghastly ghouls and ghosts. Mario has gone missing inside the mansion and it is up to Luigi, with the aid of the Poltergust 3000 and Dr. E. Gad, to send the ghosts back to their final resting place and discover the mystery behind Mario's disappearance.

Pocky is the widely accepted snack of choice among otaku, but those of us who are a bit more daring and original take our Japanese candy obsession just one step further... and that step is Yan Yan. Dare to be original, friends! Come and join us in the land of confectionary possibilities.